Sunday, September 13, 2015

Hard to Open

In my quest for water efficiency, a new shower head is a must. All of the models have various settings, but not all of them have a "pause" setting. That's needed to reduce the water coming out of the head when the water doesn't need to be running, like while shampooing. This weekend, I have installed my THIRD such shower head. The first one, about two months ago, sprang a leak in the hose within two weeks after installing. I got about two months out of the second one before the button that paused the water stopped working. Here's hoping the third time IS a charm.
When shopping for the new fixtures. There are two options - inexpensive plastic painted to look like metal and easy to install or very expensive metal and difficult to install. Since I'm not really in the position for the expensive/hard to install models, I have opted for the former. I think I've always had that level of shower head in my bathrooms, and they've always lasted quite some time.
The three fixtures purchased were each a different brand, but they all had one thing in common...they were all packed in that thick plastic, hard-to-open blister packaging.

Man, I hate that stuff! I think it is quite possible to cut off an arm with the packing itself, not to mention a few fingers or a hand using the scissors. It was easier to install the fixture than it was to get it out of the package. Which begs the question, in the year 2015 when I can essentially run my life using my iPhone, why hasn't this packaging become easier to open?!?!

I was just griping to my husband about that kind of packaging the other day when I was trying to get out a new reel for my fishing rod. It's extremely dangerous for a klutz like me and makes me say words I shouldn't! :)

We've just done some remodeling in our bathrooms and I don't know if the new shower heads are low-flow or not. The old ones were and had a little bar to flip that would stop the flow. I'm ashamed to admit I seldom made use of the feature.

They are very dangerous. I have a pair of super-strong craft scissors that cut through it with no problem, but even then trying to get into once it's cut is almost impossible. I was not injured in the process, but definitely swore a lot! ;)I don't think anything can be sold here anymore that isn't considered "low flow" or for marketing purposes "high efficient". But they are much better than they used to be (see below). The first one I bought had the head that moved around to each setting, one being the pause. The second one had all the settings on the little lever that moved around the head, but a button for the pause. And this new one has the lever that moves around the head including the pause. So we'll see. I could possibly turn it to pause 4-5 times in one shower, so the multiple use may end up being a problem. Whenever I think of low flow, it reminds me of this Seinfeld episode...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlrtQb24Qxw

There's a blade yo can get for a box knife that has a blade like a cats claw where the edge is inside the curve. And while not impossible to slice yourself open this one is a little less designed to spear yourself. This guy, fits the Stanley. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-Large-Hook-Blades-5-Pack-11-983/100023636

Be careful with that darn thing BTW. You can easily scald the pelt off yourself if the shower is electric as stopping the water flow can cause the water to overheat on the heating element. I nearly boiled myself with one of them darn things.

That blade looks dangerous!!! Like something a Ninja would use. :) It cuts linoleum, so it'd work on plastic for sure. I was also reading that a handheld can opener can do the trick too. But even once cutting it open all all sides, as I mentioned above, that plastic is still almost impossible to open up. It's too bad they didn't make the pause button out of that stuff! ;)The pause feature isn't legally allowed to keep water from completely turning off there at the head due to building pressure and I'm sure the heat issue. Instead, it just lessens the flow to more of a trickle. So that keeps it from coming out too hot. I do notice a bit of a temp change, but it's not scalding thankfully.

While I get that to a point, there are other things on the shelves that are at the same price point or higher and are in easy to open boxes. I can kind of see not being able to open in the store so it's harder to shoplift, on the other hand it could be easier to open at home with a pair of kitchen shears.

hope the third time is a charm..as for packaging.. same thing with kids toys.. they come with so many of those hidden plastic times it is a pain to just get the damn thing out of the box.

p.s i wish you were not a no comment blogger so i could reply back to all your sweet comments and sometimes questions.. i do reply back on the blog sometimes but doubt you go back to read.. anyway.. yes D just started kindergarten last week.. but he isn't in the public school system just yet.. he is doing his kinder at the private school he was at for pre k. next year will be much more crazier I expect.

I didn't know I was a no-comment blogger. What does that mean? I'll have to check back over and see. I don't mind you replying. :)How fun! I hope he is enjoying K. I bet it was an easy transition staying at the same school for both preK and K.

my phone is acting funny and won't let me reply.. or i accidentally replied multiple times.. in that case.. sorry.You need to go into your blogger profile and where it ask 'show your email' you tick yes. and voila!and yes the transition to k was pretty easy.. the biggest change was the longer hours yay! but no naps meaning we've got a tired cranky D on our hands. :(